LESSON 1 Jesus, God s Remedy for Sin MARK 2:1-12; 3:1-6; JOHN 5:30-39; 8:31 9:41 God s plan. Many Scriptures foretold the coming of Jesus, God s Son, to earth as a human being. Mankind had disobeyed God ever since the Garden of Eden. So God planned a way for all of us to have our sins forgiven and have our relationship with Him restored. You d think that the Jewish people would have felt honored when the Messiah, Jesus, came to live among them and teach them about His Father. Sadly, this was not so. Messiah The expected king and deliverer of the Jews. God had foretold He would send His anointed One. Jesus enemies. Jesus was the kindest man who ever lived, but He still had enemies. News about Him spread as He traveled through the country healing sick people and preaching about God. Things He said and did got the attention of the Jewish religious leaders. Eventually they turned against Him. For example, one day some men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. Jesus recognized their faith. He said, Son, your sins are forgiven. Some scribes overheard Jesus forgive the man s sins. They immediately questioned, Who can forgive sins but God? Even when Jesus miraculously healed the man and he was able to walk, they couldn t believe that Jesus was the Son of God. The Jews had strict rules about what people were allowed to do on the Sabbath Day, their day Scribes Educated Jewish men who studied, copied, and edited the Scriptures. They taught what they felt was the best interpretation of God s Word. of worship. The scribes and Pharisees watched Jesus closely to see if He would heal anyone on the Sabbath. They thought this would be against the Sabbath laws. Jesus told them it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath, and then He healed a man with a crippled hand. The leaders went away determined to find some way to stop Jesus. Pharisees A group of Jews especially strict in observing God s laws and adding many more of their own. Jesus and the Roman Empire. The Romans did many good things for the nations they conquered, such as building excellent roads. But the Jews hated this foreign government. When the Jews read the prophecies of the coming Messiah, many hoped that He would lead them in a rebellion against the Romans. Since Jesus refused to fight against the Romans, but taught love and kindness to everyone, many Jews refused to accept Him as the promised One. Rejecting the truth. Jesus tried many times to show the religious leaders that God had sent Him. He told them, My miracles and other deeds prove that God My Father has sent Me. Search the Scriptures, for they tell about Me. The scribes and Pharisees sent educated men to try to trap Jesus into saying something wrong, but they failed each time because Jesus always knew what to say. Jesus told the Jews, If you follow Me, you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Instead of following Jesus, many Jews chose to become slaves of the devil. A person who obeys God listens to God s words, but you reject God s words because you do not really follow God, Jesus said. The Jews were so angry they picked up rocks to throw at Jesus, but He escaped. 2
Lesson 1 Envy and hatred. When Jesus healed a blind man on the Sabbath day, the Pharisees investigated. They tried to convince the blind man that Jesus was a sinner, but he disagreed. It is unheard of for a man to cure the eyes of someone born blind, he said. If this man weren t from God, He wouldn t be able to do it. That made the Pharisees angry. The religious leaders envied Jesus because so many people believed Him. When Jesus brought a dead man back to life, the leaders said, If we don t do something, everyone will believe in Him. They watched for a chance to kill Him. Jesus knew His death was part of God s plan. He didn t try to fight back when He was arrested by the jealous Jews who hated Him. Death Life! The Jewish leaders gave Jesus a quick trial and persuaded the Roman governor Pilate to sentence Him to death. The Son of God, who loved all people, was whipped and mistreated. He was nailed to a Roman cross, where He died. Jesus eleven faithful disciples grieved for three days until Jesus proved His power over death and came back to life. He will never die again, and those who believe in Him will live forever too. The following stories come from the book of the New Testament called The Acts of the Apostles. They tell the exciting story of what happened to God s people after Jesus death and resurrection. Disciples Twelve men Jesus chose to follow Him and hear His teachings. One disciple betrayed Him to soldiers who arrested and killed Him. What the Bible Says We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6:69 Jesus, the God-Man 1. The verse gives two names for Jesus. Underline them. Choose the best description for each of these names. 2. Jesus was: Christ A. The promised king of the Jews B. A title given to all Jewish priests Jesus was: The Son of the living God A. A very good religious person B. The literal Son of God who came to earth from Heaven It s hard to explain or imagine, but Jesus is at the same time both fully human and fully God. No one else has been or ever will be such a God-man. For this reason, we call Him the only Son of God. 3
Lesson 1 Remember This? Match the phrases on the left with the correct endings on the right. When you are finished, the letters in the blanks will reveal a fact about Jesus, the Messiah. Jewish Scriptures foretold the coming God planned a way for us to be Jesus told a paralyzed man, The Jewish religious leaders believed The Roman Empire U it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath. J of God s Son as a human being to earth. S Your sins are forgiven. E forgiven and have a relationship with Him. S had taken over the Jewish nation. The Jews hated the Romans because Jesus miracles and deeds I the Romans did not honor their religion. S proved that God His Father had sent Him. Those who follow Jesus will know The man who was cured of blindness When jealous Jews arrested Him, The Son of God died A the truth, and it will set them free. E rose from the dead. L knew Jesus power came from God. V on a Roman cross. I Jesus did not fight back. Three days later, Jesus Where in the World Did It Happen? ATLANTIC OCEAN North Sea 0 250 500 miles 0 250 500 750 km Caspian Sea When Jesus came, He lived in Palestine, a small region in the Middle East. The Roman Empire controlled Palestine at that time. Today it is the site of the country of Israel. Arabs and Jews live there. Black Sea What body of water lies to the Rome west of Palestine? The Sea. N Mediterranean Sea PALESTINE Was the Jewish nation a small W S E Red Sea or large piece of the Roman Empire? The Roman Empire 4
Am I a Sinner? Lesson 1 No matter how hard we try to be good, we still find ourselves getting angry, jealous, proud, and sometimes mean. This is because, deep down inside, we are sinful. We were all born this way. Choose words from the word box to fill in the blanks. ANGRY DREADS FOREVER HATES PRIDE What it looks like outside 1. Aleah is so sweet. She s always smiling. 2. Paul seems so contented all the time. 3. Oh, it was nothing, Jerardo says as he receives a compliment. 4. Luanne does a nice job of cleaning her room. 5. Marcy doesn t complain about waiting on the bus. Deep inside 1 2 3 4 5 Aleah having to share a locker with Britney. 6 7 8 9 10 Paul R another one of his mother s broccoli casseroles. 11 12 13 Jerardo s heart swells with P Ewhen he thinks about the great job he s done. 14 15 16 17 Luanne thinks R thoughts about her mom as she makes her bed. 18 19 20 21 22 23 To Marcy it seems like until the late bus arrives. E What does the Bible say about our sinful nature? Place the numbered letters from above on the correct blanks below. 18 23 8 1 14 22 7 5 12 15 4 9 2 13 21 O LL N, N COM 10 20 3 4 23 17 16 13 HO OF TH GLO OF O. Romans 3:23 * For more Lesson 1 activities, turn to pages 42 and 43. 5
2 ACTS 1:1 2:41 The Holy Spirit Comes 6 A promise and a good-bye. Jesus had accomplished His mission on earth. Just a few weeks before, He had died on a cross and come back from the dead. Now the time had come for Him to return to Heaven. Jesus met with His disciples outside Jerusalem for a few final words with them. He gave the eleven men a promise and a mission, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you, and you will tell about Me in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and in all parts of the earth. From now on the disciples would be called apostles. Jesus could now return to His Father His disciples were trained and ready to carry on His work. All they needed yet was the Holy Spirit. Jesus rose and disappeared into the clouds. The Holy Spirit comes. Earlier, Jesus had told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be a Spirit of truth that Apostle Sent on a mission. Holy Spirit The presence of God that lives in a person. would live in them. He would be a helper and encourager like Jesus had been. The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and help you remember everything I have taught you, Jesus said. The apostles must have felt a little lost and alone without their friend and leader. They returned to Jerusalem and spent time praying with others who had known Jesus. A dedicated group of Jesus friends and followers were together on the Jewish feast day of Pentecost when they suddenly received what they had been expecting. With the sound of a strong rushing wind, the Holy Spirit came from Heaven. A flame of fire burned above each person s head. The apostles had never seen or experienced anything like it. Amazing ability. The apostles found that they could now speak different languages languages they hadn t known before. When they spoke to the many strangers from faraway places who were in Jerusalem for the Pentecost feast, each person heard them speak in their own language. It was a wonderful opportunity to tell many people about Jesus. Everyone wondered what was going on. What does this mean? they asked. Some people who heard about the new strange thing laughed in disbelief and said, These men are drunk. Peter preaches about Jesus. Peter, the leader of the apostles, spoke to the crowd that had gathered. He told them God had sent the Holy Spirit, just as He had promised. Peter was determined to use this opportunity to spread the news that Jesus had risen from the dead, because many of the Jews did not want to believe in Jesus. Peter launched into a powerful sermon, and everyone listened. He told them that they had killed their own Saviour. Let all Israel know that God has made Jesus, whom you crucified, Lord and Christ. Many people repent. Many of the listeners realized they were guilty. Brothers, what shall we do? they asked Peter and the other apostles. Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to have your sins forgiven, Peter answered. Then you, too, will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise of the Spirit is for everyone God calls. About three thousand people believed in Jesus and were saved from their sins that day. This was how the church began.
Lesson 2 A Glance Back Into History What Was Pentecost? The Jewish Feast of Pentecost was celebrated fifty days after Passover. Fifty days was the time it took the Israelites who left Egypt to get to Sinai. There on Mount Sinai, God came down with fire, lightning, and thunder to give His laws to the people. These laws were written on tablets of stone. At Pentecost described in the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit came down in tongues of fire on the believers. The Holy Spirit came to live in the tablets of our hearts and teach us how to obey God. What the Bible Says Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 Repent and Be Saved The verse tells us three things that happen when we choose to follow Jesus. Match them to their meanings. 1. Repent 2. Be baptized for the remission of sins 3. Receive the Holy Ghost A. Let God s own Spirit live within you so He can help you live the way Jesus wants you to. B. Turn away from doing evil and selfish things. C. Receive a symbolic washing to show you are serious about giving up evil to follow Jesus. To be truly saved, it is not enough to say you believe in Jesus and decide to get baptized. Rather, baptism is a symbol that followers of Jesus have experienced these two major changes in their lives: Repentance to stop sinning and do right instead Receiving God s Spirit God s power that helps us to continue living without sinning Summarize what this memory verse teaches and write it in your own words below. 4. 7
Lesson 2 Remember This? Complete the lesson outline using the choices in the box. The Holy Spirit comes like a rushing wind. He promises to send the disciples the Holy Spirit. He tells His disciples to spread the news about Him. The apostles speak in languages they never learned. He says they must repent, be forgiven, and be baptized. I. Jesus meets with His disciples outside Jerusalem for His final words with them. A. B. II. III. IV. The apostles return to Jerusalem to wait for the promise. The promise is fulfilled on the Jewish feast day of Pentecost. A. B. Flames of fire appear above the believers heads. C. Peter preaches a sermon to explain to the crowds what is happening. A. He tells the crowd that they killed their own Saviour by crucifying Jesus. B. C. About three thousand people believe Peter s words and are received into the church. Who Said It? The Jesus you crucified is the Lord and Christ. What does this mean? Brothers, what shall we do? The Holy Spirit will teach you all things. Where in the World Did It Happen? Find Jerusalem in the region of Judea. Draw a flame of fire above it to show that the Holy Spirit first came to the believers there. W A. the crowd B. Peter C. Jesus 0 10 20 miles 0 25 km Mediterranean Sea N S E SAMARIA Jerusalem Bethlehem JUDEA Jordan River Jericho Bethany Dead Sea 8
Lesson 2 Spiritual Fruit When a person becomes a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins the lifelong process of changing the believer from the inside out. Beautiful, Godlike attitudes start to grow where sin and pride once had control. Galatians 5:22, 23 calls these Godlike qualities the fruit of the Spirit. Complete the Holy Spirit fruit by choosing vowels from the roots of the tree to fill in the blanks. J Y P C L V P T NC F THF LN SS G DN SS K NDN SS G NTL N SS S LF C NTR L Holy Spirit Power O E O E A E A I E E A I U E O O E I E E E E E O O Use the circled letters above to complete the verse about how the Holy Spirit changes a person. I WILL UT M P RIT WITH N Y U, AND USE Y U TO W LK IN MY ST TUT S, AND Y SHAL K P MY JU GM N S, AND D TH M. Ezekiel 36:27 * For more Lesson 2 activities, turn to pages 44 and 45. 9